"They will always be remembered." Yami finished. Some other soldiers
clapped. A few servants wiped tears from their faces. Yami dropped a
single red rose onto where the opening of the cave had been. The cave in
had sealed of the entrance completely. Yami turned away from where he had
been leaving the remembrance service for those guards who lost their lives.
"Now we shall return home." He said gravely. The servants began climbed out of the canyon. Guards had been stationed on the difficult areas to help them. Yami walked over to where Tea, Yugi, Seto and three other people were waiting. "How are you?" He asked a female servant.
The woman who had gone into labour the previous day smiled up at him. "Very well thank you sir." She rocked her newborn baby, a little girl, in her arms.
"What's her name?" Yugi asked.
"Isabel." The husband replied.
"That's a pretty name for a pretty baby." Tea said.
"We must be going." Seto urged Yami.
"Marion." Yami said to the woman. "Are you able to attempt to climb the canyon?"
"I will try." She replied.
Eventually, through much effort and passing around of the baby Isabel, everyone stood at the bottom of the mountains. They found the horses that Marik's army had arrived on as well as the horses brought by Yami and his guards the previous day.
With a bit or organisation Yami, Seto and Yugi managed to make sure that everyone had a horse to ride and no one had to walk. It involved several people having to share horses.
"Here." Yugi helped Tea to climb onto a horse. She sat behind Seto. "You must lead the way home, because Tea knows the way best." Tea and Seto nodded and began to move off to lead everyone back to the palace. Tea waved to Yami and Yugi, still not understanding what had been going on.
Yugi walked over to where Yami was sitting on a horse. "That's everyone." He said. Yami held out a hand and pulled Yugi up behind him.
"I thought we should bring up the rear." He explained as they walked off after the others. "It will give us time to talk. So how did you find palace life?"
"Different." Yugi replied eventually. "I enjoyed it though. The food was delicious and everyone was really nice. I missed my grandfather and friends but I preferred the living style."
"Yes, I never quite realised how terrible situation are for you." Yami replied.
"We don't complain." Yugi said simply.
"I noticed." Yami said. "And in a way I'm very glad that we did this exchange. When I get home I will be making some changes to the system. I learnt a lot from living like you do. The value of friendship. I also saw things about myself that I would rather not have seen. I can see how vain and pretentious I used to be. I'm a changed man." Yami admitted.
"I know."
"How do you know?" Yami asked.
"Because the Prince Yami I met a week ago would never have shared his horse with a common boy like me." Yugi said.
"You are not common Yugi. You are one in a million. A unique person. I hope we will stay in touch after all this is over." Yami said.
"In a way I want this to be over, but I don't."
"How so?" Yami asked.
"Because I want to go home and see everyone. But I don't want to admit to all the lies we told. And I don't know what your parents will think about all this, especially as there was a threat on your life." Yugi admitted.
"Yes. I too will be sad when all this is over." Yami agreed. "And I am also concerned about admitting to all the lies we were forced to tell."
"Yami?" Yugi asked. "I have to admit something to you. I'm really sorry about it, I don't know why it happened. But while you were being me I did something, something I deeply regret because it was wrong."
"I also regret some of my actions. If you confess then so will I." Yami said, being careful to stay out of earshot of everyone else.
"I.well.Tea and I." Yugi stammered. "I don't know quite how to say this but.I kissed Tea." Yugi admitted. "No more than that. Well there is more but it wasn't physical, only emotional and totally on my part. Tea didn't know about our swap." Yugi trailed off, not knowing what Yami would say. Yami stopped the horse and swivelled his head around to face Yugi.
"You have fallen in love with Tea?" He asked finally.
"No.Yes." Yugi looked away. "But I'm not going to act on it. I mean she's your girlfriend and I have Serenity."
"May I admit something Yugi?" Yami asked, allowing the horse to walk on again. "I am guilty of the same crime, except my crime was with Serenity." He sighed. "I couldn't help it. She's perfect."
"So we fell in love with each other's girlfriends." Yugi grinned. "That's kinda of funny."
"When they find out that we lied to them they won't be laughing." Yami sighed. "I get the feeling that Serenity won't like the fact that I lied to her."
"But you didn't. You really have feelings for her and that is all that matters." Yugi said. "We have to hope that they will listen to us."
"Yes. So tell me Yugi, what did you think of my parents?" Yami asked as they rode after the other servants.
Word spread through the city like wild fire. "The prince is returning!"
The palace gates were opened in readiness and the entire staff was assembled to greet Prince Yami on his triumphant return. On this joyous day even common laymen were allowed into the vast palace grounds to greet the returning army.
"Why do you think they needed Yugi to go?" Serenity asked Joey.
"Listen Serenity." Joey turned to his sister; he could tell that she was excited about Yugi's return, except she actually wanted to see Yami. "There's going to be a lot of confusion here today and a lot of explaining on both sides. I just want you to know that no one wanted to lie to you, especially me."
"What do you mean Joey?" Serenity asked.
"You'll see." Joey replied.
Behind them Mrs Wheeler stood with Mr Mouto, awaiting the return of his grandson. Both were very confused by the entire goings on.
"The are coming!" One person shouted. Everyone stood on tiptoe as the first horse came into the palace grounds. Seto rode up to the King and Queen who waited on the palace steps. He bowed his head to them.
"Welcome home Mr Kaiba." The King greeted him. Seto let Tea get down first before he jumped to the ground. On of the stable hands took the horse away. Behind them the soldiers and servants were filtering into the grounds and climbing off of their horses. The horses were quickly taken to the stable to be fed and watered.
"Where is Yugi?" Serenity asked worriedly. Everyone had got off of the horses now.
"I don't know." Joey replied, hundreds of terrible imaginings crowding his brain, most involving Yugi on the wrong end of a sword.
"There he is!" Serenity shouted. She saw Yami ride in on a horse. Pushing her way through the crows she reached the front just as Yugi jumped off the horse and stood on the ground. But he was still on the horse!
Serenity blinked and looked again. Two Yugis? The crowd went very quiet as a stable hand walked forward and took Yami's horse.
"Come with me and we will get this over with." Yami whispered to Yugi, and side-by-side they walked towards where the King and Queen stood. The crowd parted for them, mouths open, eyes wide, whispering about twin princes.
Yugi and Yami bowed when they reached the King and Queen. The King looked at them suspiciously, and the Queen looked extremely scared.
"B-b-but which of you is my son?" She stammered.
"I am your son." Yami replied. "But the boy by my side had been your son for the past week."
"I don't understand." Said the Queen faintly. "Perhaps you could come up and here and explain things to me?"
"I must explain to everyone mother." Yami replied. "And Yugi Mouto here must help me." They walked up the steps together and turned to face the waiting crowd. Slowly and patiently Yami and Yugi in turn explained everything to the crowd. They went through exactly what they had done and learnt. Yami even related to the crowd about how Seto and Joey had made sure that he was safe in prison as Seto had explained everything to him the previous evening.
"So there you have it." Yugi finished. "We both changed places for a week and learned some amazing lessons. But we told a lot of lies that we want to apologise for, we never meant to hurt anyone by them."
"I agree." Yami said. "But now that we are back to our rightful positions I shall be talking to my father and his council about the terrible conditions many of your bear, from this experience I hope to change your lives for the better!"
The crowd cheered. As they began to leave Yami saw Serenity's face in the crowd, she looked angry and upset. Their eyes met and she turned away and ran.
"Serenity!" Yami called, running after her.
Yugi was left alone on the palace steps. But not for long.
"So, your name is really Yugi?" Tea said from behind him.
AN - Oooooh, how will the girlfriends react to this news.find out next chapter!!!
"Now we shall return home." He said gravely. The servants began climbed out of the canyon. Guards had been stationed on the difficult areas to help them. Yami walked over to where Tea, Yugi, Seto and three other people were waiting. "How are you?" He asked a female servant.
The woman who had gone into labour the previous day smiled up at him. "Very well thank you sir." She rocked her newborn baby, a little girl, in her arms.
"What's her name?" Yugi asked.
"Isabel." The husband replied.
"That's a pretty name for a pretty baby." Tea said.
"We must be going." Seto urged Yami.
"Marion." Yami said to the woman. "Are you able to attempt to climb the canyon?"
"I will try." She replied.
Eventually, through much effort and passing around of the baby Isabel, everyone stood at the bottom of the mountains. They found the horses that Marik's army had arrived on as well as the horses brought by Yami and his guards the previous day.
With a bit or organisation Yami, Seto and Yugi managed to make sure that everyone had a horse to ride and no one had to walk. It involved several people having to share horses.
"Here." Yugi helped Tea to climb onto a horse. She sat behind Seto. "You must lead the way home, because Tea knows the way best." Tea and Seto nodded and began to move off to lead everyone back to the palace. Tea waved to Yami and Yugi, still not understanding what had been going on.
Yugi walked over to where Yami was sitting on a horse. "That's everyone." He said. Yami held out a hand and pulled Yugi up behind him.
"I thought we should bring up the rear." He explained as they walked off after the others. "It will give us time to talk. So how did you find palace life?"
"Different." Yugi replied eventually. "I enjoyed it though. The food was delicious and everyone was really nice. I missed my grandfather and friends but I preferred the living style."
"Yes, I never quite realised how terrible situation are for you." Yami replied.
"We don't complain." Yugi said simply.
"I noticed." Yami said. "And in a way I'm very glad that we did this exchange. When I get home I will be making some changes to the system. I learnt a lot from living like you do. The value of friendship. I also saw things about myself that I would rather not have seen. I can see how vain and pretentious I used to be. I'm a changed man." Yami admitted.
"I know."
"How do you know?" Yami asked.
"Because the Prince Yami I met a week ago would never have shared his horse with a common boy like me." Yugi said.
"You are not common Yugi. You are one in a million. A unique person. I hope we will stay in touch after all this is over." Yami said.
"In a way I want this to be over, but I don't."
"How so?" Yami asked.
"Because I want to go home and see everyone. But I don't want to admit to all the lies we told. And I don't know what your parents will think about all this, especially as there was a threat on your life." Yugi admitted.
"Yes. I too will be sad when all this is over." Yami agreed. "And I am also concerned about admitting to all the lies we were forced to tell."
"Yami?" Yugi asked. "I have to admit something to you. I'm really sorry about it, I don't know why it happened. But while you were being me I did something, something I deeply regret because it was wrong."
"I also regret some of my actions. If you confess then so will I." Yami said, being careful to stay out of earshot of everyone else.
"I.well.Tea and I." Yugi stammered. "I don't know quite how to say this but.I kissed Tea." Yugi admitted. "No more than that. Well there is more but it wasn't physical, only emotional and totally on my part. Tea didn't know about our swap." Yugi trailed off, not knowing what Yami would say. Yami stopped the horse and swivelled his head around to face Yugi.
"You have fallen in love with Tea?" He asked finally.
"No.Yes." Yugi looked away. "But I'm not going to act on it. I mean she's your girlfriend and I have Serenity."
"May I admit something Yugi?" Yami asked, allowing the horse to walk on again. "I am guilty of the same crime, except my crime was with Serenity." He sighed. "I couldn't help it. She's perfect."
"So we fell in love with each other's girlfriends." Yugi grinned. "That's kinda of funny."
"When they find out that we lied to them they won't be laughing." Yami sighed. "I get the feeling that Serenity won't like the fact that I lied to her."
"But you didn't. You really have feelings for her and that is all that matters." Yugi said. "We have to hope that they will listen to us."
"Yes. So tell me Yugi, what did you think of my parents?" Yami asked as they rode after the other servants.
Word spread through the city like wild fire. "The prince is returning!"
The palace gates were opened in readiness and the entire staff was assembled to greet Prince Yami on his triumphant return. On this joyous day even common laymen were allowed into the vast palace grounds to greet the returning army.
"Why do you think they needed Yugi to go?" Serenity asked Joey.
"Listen Serenity." Joey turned to his sister; he could tell that she was excited about Yugi's return, except she actually wanted to see Yami. "There's going to be a lot of confusion here today and a lot of explaining on both sides. I just want you to know that no one wanted to lie to you, especially me."
"What do you mean Joey?" Serenity asked.
"You'll see." Joey replied.
Behind them Mrs Wheeler stood with Mr Mouto, awaiting the return of his grandson. Both were very confused by the entire goings on.
"The are coming!" One person shouted. Everyone stood on tiptoe as the first horse came into the palace grounds. Seto rode up to the King and Queen who waited on the palace steps. He bowed his head to them.
"Welcome home Mr Kaiba." The King greeted him. Seto let Tea get down first before he jumped to the ground. On of the stable hands took the horse away. Behind them the soldiers and servants were filtering into the grounds and climbing off of their horses. The horses were quickly taken to the stable to be fed and watered.
"Where is Yugi?" Serenity asked worriedly. Everyone had got off of the horses now.
"I don't know." Joey replied, hundreds of terrible imaginings crowding his brain, most involving Yugi on the wrong end of a sword.
"There he is!" Serenity shouted. She saw Yami ride in on a horse. Pushing her way through the crows she reached the front just as Yugi jumped off the horse and stood on the ground. But he was still on the horse!
Serenity blinked and looked again. Two Yugis? The crowd went very quiet as a stable hand walked forward and took Yami's horse.
"Come with me and we will get this over with." Yami whispered to Yugi, and side-by-side they walked towards where the King and Queen stood. The crowd parted for them, mouths open, eyes wide, whispering about twin princes.
Yugi and Yami bowed when they reached the King and Queen. The King looked at them suspiciously, and the Queen looked extremely scared.
"B-b-but which of you is my son?" She stammered.
"I am your son." Yami replied. "But the boy by my side had been your son for the past week."
"I don't understand." Said the Queen faintly. "Perhaps you could come up and here and explain things to me?"
"I must explain to everyone mother." Yami replied. "And Yugi Mouto here must help me." They walked up the steps together and turned to face the waiting crowd. Slowly and patiently Yami and Yugi in turn explained everything to the crowd. They went through exactly what they had done and learnt. Yami even related to the crowd about how Seto and Joey had made sure that he was safe in prison as Seto had explained everything to him the previous evening.
"So there you have it." Yugi finished. "We both changed places for a week and learned some amazing lessons. But we told a lot of lies that we want to apologise for, we never meant to hurt anyone by them."
"I agree." Yami said. "But now that we are back to our rightful positions I shall be talking to my father and his council about the terrible conditions many of your bear, from this experience I hope to change your lives for the better!"
The crowd cheered. As they began to leave Yami saw Serenity's face in the crowd, she looked angry and upset. Their eyes met and she turned away and ran.
"Serenity!" Yami called, running after her.
Yugi was left alone on the palace steps. But not for long.
"So, your name is really Yugi?" Tea said from behind him.
AN - Oooooh, how will the girlfriends react to this news.find out next chapter!!!
